Jack or last stand



A. w. MoNElLL. 2,708,279

JACK OR LAST STAND Filed March 2, 1953 May 17, 1955 j INVEN TOR. 2O i9 @afm 1m www.

United States Patent O JACK (3R LAST STAND Alexander W. l'icNeiil, Saugus, Mass.

Application March 2, 1953, Serial No. 339,586

1t) Claims. (Cl. 12-15) This invention comprises a new and improved jack or last stand for conveniently and securely holding a hinged last in collapsed position to receive an upper, and operating in such a manner that its functions of engaging and disengaging the last and of locking and unlocking the last in extended or collapsed condition are carried out automatically in the natural motions of the operator in presenting and removing the last.

Going more into detail, the jack of my invention comprises a base upon which is mounted a pivoted last block carrying an upright expansible spindle provided internauy with a tapered pin which is arranged in cooperation with a spring seated in the base to be projected upwardly for expanding the spindle when the last block is rocked into a predetermined and preferably horizontal position. Conversely, when the last block is rocked into another and preferably inclined position the tapered pin is retracted, the spindle collapsed and the last disengaged. ln using the jack, therefore, the operator may freely present the last to the contracted spindle while the last block occupies its inclined position, and then by merely rocking the last into horizontal position cause the spindle to expand and engage the last securely thereon.

Having thus engaged the last upon the spindle of the jack, the operator now wishes to unlock the last so that the forepart may be swung upwardly into an inclined position most convenient for the operation of drawing the upper over the last or forcing the last into the upper which has already been secured to an insole or sock lining. This operation requires the exertion of very considerable strength by the operator so that it is important to have the forepart of the last held securely in upwardly inclined position and against swinging or twisting. Accordingly, as an important feature the jack of my invention includes a last unlocking trigger which, as herein shown, is pivotally mounted in the last block and arranged to be actuated by a tripping pin adjustably mounted in the base. It will be seen, therefore, that the simple step of rocking the last with the last block accomplishes simultaneously two functions, viz. that of projecting the tapered pin to expand the last spindle and that of tripping the trigger to unlock the last.

As another important feature the jack includes latching mechanism for positively latching the last block in operative position after the steps of expanding the spindle and tripping the last unlocking trigger. This latching mechanisrn is arranged to be most conveniently operated simultaneously with the rocking of the last and last block from horizontal to inclined position in which the collapse of the spindle occurs in disengaging the last.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a View in elevation, partly in section, showing the last as presented to the jack, and

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Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the last engaged upon a spindle and unlocked by the action of the trigger.

It will be understood that while the jack of my invention is particularly useful and convenient for carrying out the forced lasting process of shoemaking, it may be usefully employed for any operations in which it is desired to spindle a lasted shoe and hold it securely while any required operations are performed thereon.

The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a base 10 of roughly triangular contour having bolt holes by which it may be securely bolted to a bench. The base is provided with an integral upstanding side plate 11 and a parallel side plate 12 which is removably bolted to the other side of the base as shown in Fig. l. In Fig. 2 the side plate 12 is shown as having been removed. A rectangular last block 13 is provided with trunnions 14 which are journaled in the side plates 11 and 12 and permit rocking movement of the last block through an angle of about 20 from the upwardly inclined position shown in Fig. 1 to the horizontal position shown in Fig. 2. The lower face of the last block rests on the base 10 in front of the trunnions 14 and thus determines the horizontal position of the block.

The last block is provided with a tubular sleeve 15 which is extended upwardly as a hollow split spindle 16, the sleeve 15 being retained in the last block by a set screw 17. The split spindle 16 is provided internally with a tapered pin 1S which extends downwardly through the sleeve 15 and projects slightly below the lower face of the last block 13. The tapered upper end of the pin 1S, when projected, engages wedge-shaped portions formed in the spindle 16 and causes it to expand.

in the bottom of the base l) is inserted a cover plate 19 which is held in place by screws threaded into the bottom of the base. Within the base is provided a socket for a compression spring 2i) which rests upon the cover plate 19 at its lower end and at its upper end supports a plug 21 upon the upper surface of which rests the lower end of the taper pin 18. The rear end of the last block 13 is provided with a beveled face 22 which covers the plug 21 when the last block is rocked into its inclined position and uncovers the plug 21 when the last block is rocked into its horizontal position as shown in Fig. 2, thereby rendering the spring 2@ and plug 21 effective to Y project the taper pin and expand the spindle 16. The

.upper edge of the plug 21 is beveled forwardly and downwardly to impart a camming action to the pin 18.

For latching the last block 13 in its horizontal position, a latch bar 23 is pivotally mounted in the forward portion of die last block which is forked to receive the latch bar. This is pivotally mounted at its upper end on a transverse pivot 203- and hooked at its lower end to engage a transverse latch pin 25 in the base 1G. The latch itself is provided with a forwardly extending rod 26 having a knob at its outer end and normally occupying a substantially horizontal position when the latch 23 is engaged with the latch pin 25. The latch 23 is engaged by a torsion spring 27 which encircles the pivot 24 and tends at all times to rock the latch in a counterclockwise direction lto cause it to engage the latch pin 25 whenever the last block is rocked into its horizontal position.

The last block 13 also carries in its forward forked portion a trigger block 2S pivotally mounted upon a pivot pin 29 and biased rearwardly by a torsion spring 39 which encircles the pivot 29. The trigger block carries a trigger 31 whose function is to unlock the hinged last when the last block and last are rocked into horizontal position. To this end the trigger block 28 is arranged to engage a vertical trip pin 32 which is adjustably threaded into the base 1t) and whose position may be adjusted by removing the cover plate 19 so that the lower direction.

Y condition and to be seized and gripped by the ex'- end of the pin may be reached by a screw-driver. The pin 32 is set in the base in advance of the socket for the spring 213 and projects upwardly between the forks of the last block 13. The torsion spring 3d holds the trigger block 23 always against the upper end or" the pin 32. When the last block is rocked into its inclined position as shown in Fig. l, the trigger block rocks in a clockwise When the last block is rocked into its horizontal position, the trigger block and the projecting trigger 31 are rocked forwardly and the last unlocked as will be presently-explained.

A typical hinged last well adapted for use with the jack of this invention is shown in Figs. l and 2. it comprises a forepart 4t) and heel part 'f-l having mating surfaces. The yheel part is provided with the usual thimble .2 which is of such internal diameter as freely to receive the expansible spindle i6 when the latter is in contr spindle.

The two parts of the last are connected by a link d3 and a latch arm 41% both pivoted upon an anchor pin e5 in the forepart. The Ylatch arm is arranged to engage a latch pin 4S at its free hooked end and is biased to engage the pin by a leaf spring 47. When the latch arm is engaged with the pin 46, the last is locked in its extended position. When the latch arm is released the last is unlocked and the forepart may be swung upwardly into-collapsed position as partially indicated in 2 by dot-and-dash lines. in this position the rear end of the forepart rests upon the heel seat or" the heel part so that the forepart is securely supported in position to receive the upper. n

The latch arm is released to unlock the last by the forward rocking movement of the trigger 3l as the last lock is rocked from the position of Fig. l to the position of Fig. 2. To this end the trigger 3l is shaped to enter the opening in the cone of the last and to reach the hooked end of the latch arm 44. The trigger 3i. may be either wide and spade-shaped, or narrow and fingershaped according to the type of last, but in every instance it will be shaped to engage the latch arm when the last is rocked with the last block into horizontal position.

In using the last hereinabove described, the operator places the last on the inclined last block i3 with the collapsed spindle 16 freely entered in the thimble i2 of the last and with the last locked in its fully straightened position, all as shown in Fig. l. By merely pressing down on the forepart of the last, the last and the last Vblock t3 are rocked about 20 in counterclockwisc direction to the horizontal position shown in Fig. 2. In this movement the taper pin 13 is brought into registration with the spring pressed plug 21, the pin is elevated, the spindle i6 expanded, and the last firmly held in position. Simultaneously the trigger block 23 is rocked forwardly and the latch arm 44 disengaged from the latch pin i6 thereby unlocking the last; also simultaneously the latch 23 engages the latch pin 25 thus locking all the parts of the jack in the position described.

The forepart of the last may now be swung upwardly into collapsed condition to receive the upper, and when this has been done the forepart is pushed downwardly and the last fully extended within the partially formed shoe. Now in order to remove the lasted shoe the operator has merely to swing the rod 26 upwardly to discngage the latch 23 from the latch pin 25 and at the same time rockrthe last and the last blockupwardly into the inclined position of Fig. l. In this operation the taper pin 18 is permitted to retract along the beveled face of the plug '2.1 whereupon the spindle 16 contracts and disengages the last thirnble 42. At the same time the trigger 31 permits the spring 47 to return the latch arm de to its locking-engagement with the latch pin 46. It will be noted that the rod 26 and the last are both rocked in the same direction to eiect release and these two movements may be very conveniently effected by grasping both the rod 26 and the forepart of the last in one hand Vand moving them almost at the same time although the movement or" the jack is slightly delayed until the latch 23 is disengaged.

lt will be noted that the tubular sleeve i5 is threaded into the last block 13 and locked by the set screw 17. This provides a convenient structure for replacing the expansible spindle 16 with spindles of different diameter to t last thimbles of various sizes. rhey threaded sleeve .i5 is of standard size in each instance, while its spindle portion may be of any selected diameter. Preferably and as herein shown, the plug 21 is recessed or beveled at one side to provide a cavity into which the lower end or" the taper pin may slip when the last block is rocked to its inclined position.

Having thus disclosed my invention and described in detail an illustrative embodiment thereof, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A jack comprising a base, a pair of upstanding side pieces rising from the base, a last block pivotally mounted to rock between the side pieces and carrying an upstanding expansible spindle provided internally with a tapered pin that is movable Vthrough the bottom of the pivoted last block, a spring-controlled plug contained in the base in position to project the tapered pin when the biock is rocked to horizontal position and to permit retraction of the pin and collapse of the spindle when the block is rocked into an inclined position, a latch pivotally mounted in the block for engagement with the base, and a trigger pivotally mounted in the last block and shaped to unlock a hinged last when the last block is rocked to its horizontal position with the last held thereon by the expanded spindle.

2. A jack comprising a base, a last block pivotally mounted therein and carrying an upstanding expansible spindle provided internally with a tapered pin, and a spring-controlled member seated in the base constructed and arranged to project the tapered pin upwardly when the last block is rocked into a horizontal position on the base and so lock a last in position upon the spindle, and a last-unlocking trigger mounted in the base and actuated by such movement of the last block.

3. A jack comprising a base, a last block pivotally` mounted therein and carrying an upright expansible spindle provided internally with a tapered pin, a spring and a tripping pin mounted in the base, and a lastunlocking trigger pivotally mounted in the last block, the spring and said tripping pin being rendered effective to hold the tapered pin in projected position and to trip the trigger when the last block is rocked into horizontal position.

4. A Vjack comprising a base, a last block pivotally mounted therein and carrying an upright expansible spindle provided internaliy with a tapered pin, the base having an open socket containing a spring-controlled element which is located beneath said taper pin when the last block is rocked to horizontal position, and the last block having a surface that closes the socket when the block is rocked to an inclined position.

5. A jack of the character described in claim 4 in which the spring-controlled element is a plug interposed between the tapered pin and a compression spring and provided with a beveled surface permitting the pin to retract when the last block is rocked to its inclined position.

6. A jack comprising a base, a last block pivotally mounted therein and carrying an expansible spindle, means for expanding the spindle when the block is rocked in one direction, means for positively locking the last block in spindle-expanded position, and a manually operated unlocking rod connected to said locking means and extending forwardly beneath the forepart of a last on said block,

7. A jack comprising a base, a last block ,pivotally mounted therein and carrying an expansible spindle, means for expanding the spindle when the last block is rocked to horizontal position. a latch for locking the last block in horizontal position, and means for unlocking the last block movable preliminarily to and in the same direction as the said block.

8. A jack comprising a base, a last block ivotally mounted to rock about a transverse axis in the base and carrying an expansible spindle that projects upwardly in a direction at right angles to the axis of the block, a tapered pin in the spindle intersecting the axis of the block, and a spring pressed plug in the base, the base and block being shaped for limiting the rocking movement of the block in one direction to align the taper pin with the said plug.

9. A jack comprising a base, a last block pivotaliy mounted in the base and carrying an upstanding expansible spindle adapted to t freely into the thimble of a last placed upon the last block, and means for expanding the spindle when the last is rocked into horizontal position, and a last-unlocking trigger mounted in the base and actuated by such movement of the last block.

l0. A jack comprising a base, a last block pivotally mounted to rock in the base about a transverse axis and having a forked end portion, a spindle projecting from the last block, a last-unlocking trigger pivotally mounted in the forked end portion of the last block, and adjustable means in the base for actuating said trigger.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 543,376 Cole July 23, 1895 1,147,162 Gouldbourn et al July 20, 1915 1,755,246 Ellis Apr. 22, 1930 

